Skip to main content
MapTrack
Book a demo
Skip to download form

Free drill rig pre-start checklist

Free drill rig daily pre-start checklist (PDF-ready). Covers mast, drill head, hydraulics, tracks, cab, engine and safety checks. Download free.

Two ways to use it

Use in MapTrack →

Download the free PDF

Use it digitally instead

Unlimited users

These same 36 checks, already built.

G2 rating 4.9 out of 5
Capterra rating 5.0 out of 5GetApp rating 5.0 out of 5Software Advice rating 5.0 out of 5
All MapTrack reviews
  • Scan the asset’s QR tag with any phone
  • Submitted forms can trigger alerts
  • Photos on fails, audit-ready records
  • Export responses, PDF reports with your logo

Free trial. No credit card needed.

Trusted by teams across Australia and New Zealand

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.

These templates are free general guides provided as-is. They do not constitute legal, safety or compliance advice. You are responsible for ensuring any form meets your specific workplace obligations, industry standards and applicable regulations.

Updated 26 Oct 2026

Drill Rig Daily Pre-Start Checklist

Drill rig daily inspection: complete before first use each shift

Your logo here
0 of 36 checks

Walk-Around

1General condition: no visible damage or deterioration
2No visible leaks: oil, coolant, fuel, hydraulic
3Ground conditions: stable, level, suitable for drilling

Engine & Fluids

4Engine oil: correct level
5Coolant: correct level, no leaks
6Hydraulic oil: correct level
7Fuel: sufficient for shift
8Air filter indicator: in acceptable range
9DEF / AdBlue: level adequate (if fitted)

Tracks & Undercarriage

10Track tension: correct, even both sides
11Sprockets: no excessive wear or damage
12Rollers and idlers: rotate freely, no leaks
13Track pads: condition acceptable, no missing
14No debris wrapped around tracks or undercarriage

Mast & Drill Head

15Mast pins and bolts: secure, no play or cracking
16Drill head: condition acceptable, no excessive wear
17Winch and wire ropes: no fraying, kinks or damage
18Kelly bar / drill rods: condition acceptable, connections secure
19Centraliser / guide: secure, not worn

Hydraulics

20Rams and cylinders: no leaks or scoring
21Hoses: secure, no chafing, bulging or leaks
22Connections and couplings: tight, no weeping
23Hydraulic gauges: reading within normal range

Cab & Controls

24Cabin access and housekeeping: clean, clear of debris
25Seatbelt: working, not frayed or damaged
26Mirrors / camera: clean, correctly adjusted
27Wipers and washers: operational
28Gauges and displays: functioning correctly

Safety Devices

29Fire extinguisher: present, in date, accessible
30First aid kit: present and stocked
31Emergency stops: tested, accessible
32Guards and handrails: secure, not damaged
33Beacon / strobe: operational

Lights & Electrics

34Headlights and work lights: operational
35Indicators: operational
36Battery terminals: secure, no corrosion

Operator Sign-off

Signature

Print name

Date & time

Supervisor / Reviewer Acknowledgement

Signature

Print name

Date

How to use: download the PDF, print or complete digitally on any device.

  • PDF format, ready to print or fill on screen
  • Use as-is or customise to suit your operation
  • Go digital in MapTrack for photos, reminders and audit trails

Don't just download it - use it live. Start a free workspace with this drill rig pre-start checklist already built, so your crew can run it from a phone.

Jarrod Milford

Jarrod Milford

Co-Founder & Commercial Director

Updated 26 October 2026
Also see:Pre-start inspections →Best pre-start inspection software →MapTrack vs SafetyCulture →

Short answer

A drill rig pre-start checklist records the operator's check before each shift: walk-around, fluids, tracks and undercarriage, mast and drill head, winch rope and rods, hydraulics, cab and controls, emergency stops, guards and lights. A daily pre-start is site and manufacturer practice, not a set legal interval. Regulation 213 of the model WHS Regulations requires competent-person maintenance and inspection following the manufacturer's recommendations.

Checked against Model WHS Regulations as at 5 December 2025 (cited within as the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011) on by the MapTrack templates team. How we check templates

Key takeaways

  • The MapTrack drill rig pre-start checklist contains 36 checks across 8 sections. Sections covered: Walk-Around, Engine & Fluids, Tracks & Undercarriage, Mast & Drill Head, Hydraulics, Cab & Controls, Safety Devices, Lights & Electrics.
  • Regulation 213 sets no per-shift inspection: it follows the manufacturer's or a competent person's recommendations, annual only if neither is practicable.
  • Test every emergency stop at pre-start; a stop that fails keeps the rig shut down until it is repaired.
  • Inspect winch ropes against AS 2759-2004 Section 13, and replace any rope meeting the Section 14 discard criteria before drilling.
  • On NSW mines, the mechanical engineering control plan under the WHS (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022 covers plant inspection and defects.

Enter your email below to download this drill rig pre-start checklist as a ready-to-use PDF.

Used by construction, mining and field service teams

Saunders InternationalMineral ResourcesSupagasHacer GroupMetro TunnelUltrabuilt

What is a drill rig pre-start checklist?

A drill rig daily pre-start checklist is a structured form used to inspect a drill rig before it is operated each day or shift. Drill rigs are used across civil construction, mining, geotechnical investigation and foundation work to bore, drive or drill into the ground. Because of the significant forces involved and the complexity of the mast, drill head, hydraulics and rotating components, a thorough pre-start is essential. The checklist helps operators and supervisors confirm the drill rig is safe and fit for use, reducing the risk of mechanical failures, accidents and non-compliance. It covers everything from the tracks and undercarriage to the mast, drill head, hydraulics, cab controls and safety devices, catching problems such as worn wire ropes, hydraulic leaks or faulty emergency stops before they lead to costly downtime or incidents. In Australia, drill rig inspections must meet the WHS Regulations, and AS 4024 (Safety of machinery) gives guidance on machine guarding and safety systems. In mining operations, the WHS (Mines) Regulations impose additional requirements. Under the WHS Act 2011, the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) has a primary duty of care to ensure plant is without risks to health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable. Chapter 5 of the WHS Regulations sets out specific duties for the management and control of plant, including requirements for inspection, maintenance and operator competency. Drill rigs present equipment-specific hazards such as entanglement in rotating drill strings, struck-by incidents from unsecured drill rods, high-pressure hydraulic injection injuries and collapse of unstable ground around the borehole. A documented daily pre-start is the standard method for demonstrating compliance.

Learn more about pre-start inspections in MapTrack.

Get the free template

Enter your email above to download the full drill rig pre-start checklist as a PDF.

Download free PDF

Benefits of using this drill rig pre-start checklist

  • Fewer breakdowns: catch mast, hydraulic and drill head issues early before they become costly repairs or unplanned downtime.
  • Operator safety: verify guards, emergency stops, handrails and safety devices are in place before the drill rig is used.
  • WHS compliance: meet Work Health and Safety requirements for drill rig operation and demonstrate due diligence for plant inspection.
  • Preventive maintenance: extend the life of your drill rig by identifying wear on wire ropes, hydraulic hoses and undercarriage components before they fail.
  • Consistency across drill crews: a standardised checklist ensures critical checks are not missed regardless of which operator or crew is running the rig.
  • Recordkeeping for audits: maintain a verifiable history of pre-start inspections for audits, insurance claims and incident investigations.

Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack

When you digitise drill rig checklists in MapTrack, you get:

  • Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile. Unlimited users.
  • Email the right people when a form is submitted, with an automation you set up.
  • File every completed form against the asset, location or person it covers.
  • Download any completed form as a PDF, with failed answers listed at the top.
  • Fill in forms offline; they upload when the device is back online.
  • Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
  • Take pictures or attach photos. Not possible with a paper-based form.
  • Electronic signatures.
  • Edit forms later without reprinting.
  • Set who can view, fill in or edit forms with user roles.
  • Upload a paper form (PDF, Word, Excel or a photo) and MapTrack's AI builds a digital version for you to check.
  • Make the pre-start form required when a machine is checked out to an operator.
  • Record who did each pre-start and when, and where if you turn location capture on.
  • Link each pre-start to the asset record for a complete inspection history.

Book a demo to see how MapTrack handles drill rig checklists.

Try MapTrack free

Full access to every feature. No credit card required. Per-asset pricing so you scale as your fleet grows.

Start free trial
  • No credit card required

1-2 days/week saved

“Bloody amazing! We used to spend 1-2 days a week tracking and managing our generators alone.”
Saunders International

Steve McAllister

Asset Coordinator, Saunders International

What to include in a drill rig pre-start checklist

This drill rig pre-start checklist covers 11 key areas:

  • Drill rig details: asset ID, make/model, serial number, hours reading.
  • Operator details: name, licence/ticket number, date, site/location.
  • Walk-around: general condition and damage, visible leaks, ground conditions and stability.
  • Engine and fluids: engine oil, coolant, hydraulic oil, fuel, air filter, DEF/AdBlue (if fitted).
  • Tracks and undercarriage: track tension, sprockets, rollers and idlers, track pads, no debris.
  • Mast and drill head: mast pins and bolts secure, drill head condition, winch and wire ropes, kelly bar or drill rods, centraliser or guide.
  • Hydraulics: rams and cylinders (no leaks), hoses secure (no chafing), connections and couplings, hydraulic gauges.
  • Cab and controls: cabin access and housekeeping, seatbelt, mirrors and camera, wipers and washers, gauges and displays.
  • Safety devices: fire extinguisher, first aid kit, emergency stops, guards and handrails, beacon or strobe.
  • Lights and electrics: headlights and work lights, indicators, battery terminals.
  • Overall result, defects table, operator and supervisor sign-off.

How to use this drill rig pre-start checklist

  1. Complete drill rig and operator details at the top of the checklist, including the hours reading.: Record the rig asset ID, make and model, serial number and current hour meter. Enter your name, competency or licence details, site location and the date and time of the inspection.
  2. Perform a walk-around inspection before entering the cab. Check for leaks, damage, debris and ground stability around the rig.: Circle the rig looking for hydraulic or oil puddles underneath, cracked welds on the mast or chassis and loose bolts. Confirm the ground is stable and level enough to support the rig during drilling operations.
  3. Go through each checklist item and inspect the corresponding component. Mark Pass or Fail (and add notes if needed).: Inspect mast pins and bolts for tightness, check wire rope condition for broken strands or kinks, test drill head rotation and verify hydraulic gauges read within normal range before proceeding.
  4. If any item fails, note it and do not operate the drill rig until it is rectified or approved. Report defects per your procedures.: Tag the rig out of service for critical defects such as mast structural damage, failed emergency stops or wire rope faults. Notify the supervisor and maintenance team for immediate rectification.
  5. Sign and date when the check is complete. Keep the form for your records.: Confirm all items are marked Pass, Fail or N/A. Print your name, sign and date the form. In MapTrack, submit the inspection to automatically link it to the drill rig asset record.

In MapTrack, you can run digital pre-starts attached to each asset. Each submission is stored as a timestamped PDF against the asset record.

Get the free templateEnter your email above to download the full drill rig pre-start checklist as a PDF.Back to download form

How often should you complete this checklist?

Complete a drill rig pre-start inspection before each use or at the start of each shift. If the drill rig has been relocated to a new site, has had repairs, or was used by another operator, perform a fresh check. Many construction and mining sites require a daily pre-start for all plant and equipment. In mining operations, the WHS (Mines) Regulations may impose additional inspection frequencies. Your company policy, site rules or contract may specify additional frequency. When in doubt, complete the checklist each time the drill rig is used. In MapTrack, you can schedule daily pre-starts and periodic service inspections and track compliance across your entire drill rig fleet.

Try MapTrack free

Full access to every feature. No credit card required. Per-asset pricing so you scale as your fleet grows.

Start free trial
  • No credit card required

Frequently asked questions

A drill rig pre-start inspection should cover a walk-around (general condition, leaks, ground stability), engine and fluids (oil, coolant, hydraulic oil, fuel, air filter, DEF/AdBlue), tracks and undercarriage (tension, sprockets, rollers, idlers, pads, debris), mast and drill head (mast pins and bolts, drill head condition, winch and wire ropes, kelly bar or drill rods, centraliser or guide), hydraulics (rams and cylinders, hoses, connections, gauges), cab and controls (cabin access, seatbelt, mirrors, wipers, gauges and displays), safety devices (fire extinguisher, first aid kit, emergency stops, guards and handrails, beacon or strobe), and lights and electrics (headlights, work lights, indicators, battery terminals).

A drill rig should receive a pre-start inspection before each use or at the start of each shift. If the rig has been relocated to a new site, has had repairs, or was used by another operator, perform a fresh check. Your company policy, site rules or contract may specify additional frequency. Always follow the most stringent requirement.

In Australia, drill rig operators generally require a Statement of Attainment for the relevant unit of competency (the drilling unit depends on the drill type, so check training.gov.au for the current unit). Some drill rigs with crane functions may also require a High Risk Work Licence. Requirements vary by state and territory. Check your local WHS regulations and always verify operator competency before allowing use.

Drill rig inspections fall under the WHS Act 2011 and WHS Regulations for plant and equipment. In mining operations, the WHS (Mines) Regulations impose additional requirements for drill rigs including specific maintenance schedules and competency standards. AS 4024 (Safety of machinery) provides guidance on guarding and safety systems. The PCBU must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the rig is safe, and that it is maintained and inspected by a competent person in line with the manufacturer recommendations (regulation 213).

Yes, this drill rig pre-start checklist is completely free to download as a PDF. No account or signup is required. For teams wanting to move beyond paper forms, MapTrack offers a digital version that schedules each inspection, emails the assigned person in the week before it falls due, and stores completed records in the cloud for instant retrieval during audits.

Check that the mast pins and bolts are secure and look for cracked welds on the mast. Inspect the drill head's condition and test its rotation, check the winch and wire ropes for broken strands or kinks, and look over the kelly bar or drill rods and the centraliser or guide. Confirm the hydraulic gauges read within the normal range before you go further. Mast structural damage or a wire rope fault is a critical defect: tag the rig out and don't operate it.

A drill rig needs ground that is stable and level enough to support it while it drills, and ground giving way around the borehole is one of the hazards specific to drilling. During the walk-around, before getting into the cab, confirm the ground can carry the rig for the planned work and look for soft spots, slopes or recent excavation nearby. Check it again whenever the rig is moved to a new site, because the ground conditions change with every setup.

The operator who carried out the check signs and dates it, after marking every item Pass, Fail or N/A and recording the overall result. Any defect goes in the defects table with a description and the action needed, and the supervisor signs off as well, so someone with authority has seen the findings before the rig works. If a critical defect has been found, the supervisor and maintenance team need to know straight away, and the rig stays tagged out until it is fixed.

Applicable regulatory standards

This template is a starting point. Check the current requirements that apply to your equipment, work and location. The template alone does not establish compliance.

  • Model Work Health and Safety Regulations

    Edition: Model WHS Regulations as at 5 December 2025 (cited within as the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011)

    Maintenance and inspection per manufacturer, the order of guard types, and operator controls that can be locked off.

    • reg 213: Plant must be maintained, inspected and, if necessary, tested by a competent person, following manufacturer or competent person recommendations; annual inspection applies only if neither is practicable.
    • reg 208: Where guarding is used on plant, sets the order of guard types by access need and practicability: fixed or interlocked barriers, then tool-removable barriers, then presence-sensing systems.
    • reg 210: Operator controls must be identified, readily operable, located or guarded against unintended activation, and able to be locked off to disconnect all motive power.

    Safe Work Australia (drafted by the Parliamentary Counsel's Committee)

  • Model Code of Practice: Managing risks of plant in the workplace

    Edition: November 2024 version (reviewed May 2018; amended 2021, 2023 and 2024)

    Model Code guidance on how and when plant should be inspected by a competent person.

    • Section 3.5: Inspecting plant: how and when plant should be inspected by a competent person, reflecting reg 213.

    Safe Work Australia

  • Safety of machinery, Part 1604: Design of controls, interlocks and guarding - Emergency stop - Principles for design (ISO 13850:2015 (ED. 3.0) MOD)

    Edition: AS/NZS 4024.1604:2019 (incl. Amd 1:2021)

    Safety requirements for the emergency stop function and devices that the pre-start tests.

    • 4: Safety requirements for the emergency stop function and emergency stop devices

    Standards Australia and Standards New ZealandSold by the publisher

  • Steel wire rope - Use, operation and maintenance

    Edition: AS 2759-2004

    In-service inspection of winch wire ropes and the criteria for discarding them.

    • Section 13: Inspection of steel wire ropes in service.
    • Section 14: Criteria for discarding steel wire ropes.

    Standards AustraliaSold by the publisher

  • Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022 (NSW)

    Edition: Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022 (NSW), text as at 8 November 2025

    NSW mines: the mechanical engineering control plan covers plant inspection, testing and defect management.

    • Sch 2, s 2: Mechanical engineering control plan: controls for plant and structures over their life cycle, including inspection, testing and defect management.

    NSW Parliamentary Counsel's Office (NSW Legislation)

  • Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic)

    Edition: Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic), version 018 (in force from 20 October 2026)

    Victoria's plant rules, which apply there instead of the model WHS Regulations.

    • Part 3.5: Plant: duties of designers, manufacturers, suppliers and employers who use plant, plus registration of designs.
    • reg 105: Requires plant to be inspected as needed to monitor risks, and steps to be taken to prevent unauthorised alteration of, or interference with, the plant.

    Victorian Government (Victorian Legislation)

Each source was read at its publisher and the page checked on 26 October 2026. The publisher's current text is the authority.

Check the current source

Drill rig pre-start checklist preview

Drill rig pre-start checklist template preview showing fields and layout

The numbers behind this drill rig pre-start checklist

The pages below gather the figures behind this kind of check. Each figure on them carries its source and date, so you can quote it in a toolbox talk, a budget case or a board paper without chasing the original report.

Get the free template

Enter your email above to download the full drill rig pre-start checklist as a PDF.

Download free PDF

Embed this free template on your website

Run an industry blog, trade association site, or training resource? Drop a preview of this free drill rig pre-start checklist straight into your page. The snippet is self-contained, needs no scripts, and links readers back to the full free template.

<div style="max-width:480px;font-family:system-ui,-apple-system,'Segoe UI',Roboto,sans-serif;border:1px solid #E5E7EB;border-radius:12px;padding:20px;background:#ffffff;">
  <p style="font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.05em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#071D49;margin:0;">Free template</p>
  <p style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;color:#071D49;margin:6px 0 0;">Drill rig pre-start checklist</p>
  <ul style="margin:12px 0 0;padding-left:18px;color:#374151;font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;">
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Drill rig details: asset ID, make/model, serial number, hours reading.</li>
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Operator details: name, licence/ticket number, date, site/location.</li>
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Walk-around: general condition and damage, visible leaks, ground conditions and stability.</li>
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Engine and fluids: engine oil, coolant, hydraulic oil, fuel, air filter, DEF/AdBlue (if fitted).</li>
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Tracks and undercarriage: track tension, sprockets, rollers and idlers, track pads, no debris.</li>
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Mast and drill head: mast pins and bolts secure, drill head condition, winch and wire ropes, kelly bar or drill rods, centraliser or guide.</li>
  </ul>
  <p style="font-size:13px;color:#6B7280;margin:14px 0 0;padding-top:12px;border-top:1px solid #E5E7EB;">Free <a href="https://www.maptrack.com/templates/drill-rig-pre-start-checklist" style="color:#071D49;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;">Drill rig pre-start checklist</a> by MapTrack</p>
</div>

Free to reuse, including commercially. This template is published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. Copy it, adapt it, put it on your own site or in your own docs. All we ask is that you credit MapTrack with a link back to this page. The snippet above already includes that credit, so if you use it as-is you’re covered.

Cite this template

Writing about this topic? You’re welcome to quote this checklist. Here’s the wording to use so your readers can find the original.

The MapTrack drill rig pre-start checklist contains 36 checks across 8 sections.

Short attribution
MapTrack Drill rig pre-start checklist, https://www.maptrack.com/templates/drill-rig-pre-start-checklist
Reference list
MapTrack. (2026). Drill rig pre-start checklist [Checklist template]. Retrieved from https://www.maptrack.com/templates/drill-rig-pre-start-checklist

Free to reuse with credit under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. If you’d rather link straight to it, the page is https://www.maptrack.com/templates/drill-rig-pre-start-checklist.

Need to run digital pre-starts attached to each asset?

Register every drill rig in MapTrack, attach digital forms, and get a complete history of every inspection, service and compliance record.

Start free trialBook a demo

Pre-start inspections · All templates · Pricing · Book a demo